Liverpool Everyman will stage a new production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman this September, with BAFTA-nominated actor Cyril Nri taking on the iconic role of Willy Loman.
Running from 19 September to 10 October, with a press night on 24 September, the production is directed by Olivier Award-winning Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu, whose recent work includes For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy and Deep Azure.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest plays ever written, Death of a Salesman explores the pressures of aspiration, family expectations and identity through the story of Willy Loman, a travelling salesman confronting the gap between his dreams and reality.
This new Everyman production places fresh emphasis on themes of migration and belonging, drawing parallels between Brooklyn, where the play is set, and Liverpool’s rich Irish, Nigerian and mixed-race communities.
Cyril Nri, known for his screen work in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Cucumber and Jellyfish, leads a cast that includes Tayo Aluko, Adelaide Banks, Emma Cater, Kiren Kebaili-Dwyer, Noah Olaoye, Joe Speare and Lawrence Ubong Williams.
Director Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu said: “Willy is a migrant and, like many migrants, is sold a dream, whether that be American or in the UK. You can make your mark, stake your claim – but the dream doesn’t always become reality, and there can be repercussions. Willy also battles generational conflict: how do fathers and sons relate, and if the gap is too wide, can they ever meet in the middle to fulfil their potential?
“Liverpool, like Brooklyn (where the play is set), is rich in Irish and Nigerian heritage and in mixed-race populations. It’s important to me that this production is being performed in Liverpool, engaging with local audiences, and exploring what blackness and the migrant experience is across the UK.
“There’s a reason ‘Death of A Salesman’ is widely considered a classic and one of the greatest American plays ever written.”
The creative team includes set and costume designer Georgia Wilmot, lighting designer Stella Okafor-Ross, sound designer Ernest Acquah, movement director and cultural consultant Wendy Okoli, fight and intimacy coordinator Kaitlin Howard, voice and accent coach Esi Acquaah-Harrison, associate director Yusra Warsama, YEP trainee assistant director Shi-Janus Koroma and casting director Lucy Casson CDG.
The production will also feature captioned, audio-described and BSL-interpreted performances, as well as a post-show discussion hosted by Everyman & Playhouse Creative Director Nathan Powell.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
